Summary
- The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from 2 to 4 October.
- Security concerns prevented the race from taking place at its usual home in Sakhir.
- The event retains Bahrain in its official name under an agreement involving F1, the FIA and both countries’ governments.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is moving to Malaysia for 2026 because Formula 1 could not hold the race at Sakhir amid the conflict and security concerns affecting the Middle East. Instead of losing the event from the calendar, F1 arranged for Sepang International Circuit to host it from 2 to 4 October.
That creates an unusual distinction for anyone checking the next F1 race and its start time: the race is officially the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, but every session will take place at Sepang, near Kuala Lumpur. It is not officially called the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Why does the race still have Bahrain in its name?
The arrangement preserves Bahrain’s Grand Prix despite the change of venue. Formula 1 and the FIA announced that the agreement was reached with the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia, allowing a race that otherwise would not have taken place to remain on the 2026 schedule.
Bahrain remains associated with the event and Gulf Air retains its place in the official title. Malaysia supplies the venue. When the teams arrive at Sepang, they will therefore be contesting the Bahrain Grand Prix on Malaysian soil.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, described the decision in the joint announcement as a way to deliver the race amid “ongoing regional challenges”. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his country was “honoured to support” Bahrain, F1 and the FIA by hosting the event at Sepang.
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali welcomed the return to a circuit with an established place in the championship’s history. Sepang hosted its first Formula 1 race in 1999 and its most recent in 2017, when Max Verstappen won. The 2026 event ends a nine-year absence for the venue, although its official race name remains tied to Bahrain.
Why was Sepang chosen?
Sepang provided an existing Grand Prix circuit at a point in the calendar that also made logistical sense. The race falls between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, creating three consecutive race weekends. Moving teams and equipment from Malaysia to nearby Singapore is considerably more straightforward than introducing a distant venue between the two rounds.
The circuit also presents a different sporting challenge from Sakhir. Its 5.543-kilometre layout combines long straights with a range of corner speeds, while heat, humidity and sudden rain can complicate tyre choices and race strategy. GRANDE PRÊMIO’s early Sepang weather forecast points to the possibility of showers during the weekend, although it cannot establish whether rain will fall during the race.
The relocation was announced in July. The practical answer for fans this week is simple: Bahrain is the name of the Grand Prix, and Malaysia is where they need to look for local session times, weather and track conditions.
F1 today: FAQ
Is Fernando Alonso staying at Aston Martin in 2027?
Yes. Aston Martin confirmed that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have extended their contracts and will continue with the team beyond 2026. The announcement secures Alonso’s place on the 2027 grid.
Is Esteban Ocon leaving Haas, and who will replace him?
Ocon will leave Haas at the end of 2026. Rafael Câmara is a reported favourite, but the team has not announced a replacement; Leonardo Fornaroli, Jack Doohan and Ryō Hirakawa have also been evaluated.
How old is Kimi Antonelli?
Kimi Antonelli is 20 years old. The Mercedes F1 driver was born on 25 August 2006.
When is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
Practice begins on Friday, 2 October, with a third session and qualifying on Saturday, 3 October. The race starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday, 4 October, over 56 laps.
